Self-cleaning weeder



Feb. 6, 1923.

1,M41,5?2. M. THOMASON.

SELF CLEANING WEEDE R. FILED FEB. a, 1921.

ATTORNE s.

in r. i i a o it ateniee r en. 91.).

.hIilTIIEVJ THOEEASGN, 0F VIALLA. 'WALLih, E J'ASZ'IINGTUW.

' SELF-GLEEXT'JING WEEIGER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MATHEW THOMASON, a citizen of the United States. residing Walla- VValla, in the county of lValla l and State of lVashington, have invent certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Cleaning /Veeders, of which the follow ing is a specification.

This invention relates to agricultural implements of a class for cleaning the soil of weeds and has for its object to provide a means for cutting weeds that is relatively simple to construct, cheap to manufacture, and that is highly eficient in its work.

A further object is to provide a means for cutting weeds that is self-cleaning and hence is continuous in its operation.

A further object is to provide a means for cutting weeds that may be composed of sections, and having a close flexible connection between the sections, by which means the blades will be constantly in proper contact with the soil regardless of its contour.

A further object is to provide a weeder whose supporting means are positioned to travel upon the cleaned soil and thus do not compact the soil ahead of the blades.

A further object is to provide a weeder whose supporting means may be regulated to conform to the requirements of each in dividual blade.

With these and other objects in view ref erence is now had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of three sections of the weeder;

Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a flexible coupling; and

Fig. 4 is an end elevation in section of the blade and frame, and shows the relative position of the various parts.

Having reference to the drawings, like numerals refer to like parts throughout and the numeral 1 refers to the frame which may be of channel iron as shown or of any suitable material.

On one end of the frame is a close flexible connection which consists of a clevis arrangement 2 having the usual bolt 8, and on the other end of the frame is an enlarged eye 4 made therein. The clevis bolt 3 engages the eye of the next frame adjoining and by means of the enlarged eye and the point for joining the frames together.

wide of the clevis combined form an exceedingly flexible and at tze same time close joint at this point.

The frame is rigidly attached to the cu ting blade 5 by the braces 6 which e fastened to the blades at a point thereon intermediate their ends and well toward the rear or open end of ti e V, thus bracing the blades at their weak points and at the s H time positioning the frame at the logcal The blades 5 are of the usual material and built in the form of a f and in the crotch or point of the V is rigidly attached the goose neck 7 which extends to form a drawbar 8 by which the blades arcidrawn through the soil.

The goose neck 7 is provided with adjusting holes 9 in which the front end of the shoe 10 is fastened by any suitable means to enable proper adjustment.

The shoe 10 is of the usual design, its position and points of adjustment differ ing in the new and novel manner shown in the drawings and described herein. wherein the forward end is adjustably attached to the gooseneclr or draftbar. and the rearward end adjustably attached to the irame by means of the upright 11. the guide member 12, and the bolt 13 and adjusting holes 14.

An evener 15 joins the sections together at the forward end by means of the clevises 16, the evener being also the means by which the weeder is drawn through the soil as to this is attached the horses or other power.

As will be gathered by the above de scription the weeder is built in sections with the alternate sections having short or long V shaped blades, with the long blades projecting past the end of the short blades so as to leave no part of the surface of the soil untouched.

In use the weeder is drawn through the ground in the usual manner the flexible frame permitting suf icient movement of the blades to correspond with the contour of the ground; and by means of the shoe the blade is maintained at its proper depth for its best work.

The blades being set at an incline, as shown at 17, will have a tendency to bury itself in the ground to a degree depending on the nature of the soil and hence the shoe is used to counteract this tendency. The

central position of the shoe, While supporting the Weeder, eliminates the necessity of two shoes for each section.

The v shaped blades permits the needs to pass off at the rear ends as the Weeder progresses thus being self cleaning.

The draft bar 8 is independent-l attached to the blade as is also the frame 1, i. e., each is independently attached Wit-l1 respect tothe other, and no upper frame-Work is used to join these parts as is the usual practice.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim- 1. In a self cleaning Weeder, a frame, V shaped cutting blades, said frame rigidly and independently attached to said blades intermediate their ends, a draft bar rigidly and independently attached to said blades,

and a supporting means for said Weeder conslsting of a shoe centrally and ad ustably attached to said draft bar and to said frame.

2. In a self cleaning eeder, a flexible frame, rigidly and independently attached to and carrying V shaped cutting blades, a draft bar rigidly attached to the point of said cutting blades, and a shoe centrally disposed Within the V of said blades and adjustably attached at one end to said draft bar and at the other end to said frame.

3. In a self cleaning Weeder, a frame, flexible connections on each end of said frame, V shaped cuttingblades attached to said frame, Withthe points thereofprojected forward of said frame, a gooseneck attached to said blades and extendedto form a draft bar, a shoe pivotally and adjust-ably attached to said goose neck, annpright attached to the rear end of said shoe and'adjustably supported by said frame. j In testimony whereofl afiix my signature.

MATnnWTHoMasoN. 

